Eectal



(No Model.)

W. M. BALDWIN, Jr.

REOTAL SPEGULUM.

Patented June 30, 1885.

N. PETERS, Phcio'll ml wahingtmx D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orioles.

\VILLIAM M. BALDWVIN, JR, OF NEW'ARK, OHIO.

RECTAL SPECULUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,334, dated June 30, 1885.

Applicalion filed February 20, 1885. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. BALD- WIN, J r., a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rectal Speculums, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to improvements in that class of specula employed for examination of the rectum, and has for its object the provision of a device by which any part of the rectum may be brought into view with the greatest ease to the operator and the patient, and thoroughly examined.

To attain the desired end, my invention consists, essentially, in a tapering metal tube or body, open at both ends, the larger end being D-shaped, gradually changing to the shape of a wedge at its smaller extremity. One side of the tube is slotted throughout its entire length, a movable jointed slide fitting into said slot. A handle for manipulation is secured to the slide, and a second to the side of the tube, all of which will be hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved speculum, showing the slide. Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a perspective view,with the jointed portion of the slide thrown back. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Like letters of reference wherever they occur indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is the body of the speculum, D-shaped at the larger extremity, and tapering to a wedge shape at the smaller. One side is slotted throughout its entire length, and the tube is open at both extremities. In said slot closely fits a movable slide, B, provided with a jointor hinge, O, and a handle, D, for manipulating the slide. A similar handle, E, is affixed to the side of the tube for holding and turning the speculum. The slide is held in place by grooves eat the edges of the slot, and the larger end of the tube A is provided with a flange, F, for holding back any surplus skin. Byproviding the slide B with thejoint O the outer portion of the slide, with its handle, may be thrown back out of the way, as illustrated in Fig. 3, while the speculum is being used.

The advantages of my improved speculum may be summed up as follows: By the use of the jointed slide only such parts are admitted to view as are exposed by withdrawing the slide, whereas in the ordinary slotted speculum all the parts enter at once through the slot and the outer end becomes closed, cutting off the View. In my speculum the smaller end is open, and so arranged as to be closed only by pushing the slide to the extreme end, and it has no cavity to become impacted with pile-tumors or enlarged glands, and on its re: moval from the rectum it will not draw out such tumors, &c., saving the patient much pain and suffering. The slide in my speculum is made shorter than the slot, instead of extending the full length, as in other constructions, thus admitting a partial opening of the slot without withdrawing the slide. When the instrument is inserted its entire length, and when the slide is pushed entirely in, the smaller extremity of the instrument is closed by the lip H.

In using my speculum, it is first closed by pushing the slide to the smaller extremity. The instrument is clasped by the operatinghandle and passed into the rectum, the handle upon the slide preventing the slide pass ing too far, while as the instrument passes inward its entire length the slide withdraws, partly opening the slot for opera-ting, and the hinged portion of the slide may be withdrawn and thrown back, as hereinbefore described.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein-described speculum, consisting of the body A, D-shaped at its larger extremity and wedge shaped at the smaller, said body being open at both ends and slotted upon one side, slide 13, hinged at O and provided with a lip, H, and handle D, the body Signed at Newark, in the county of Licking IO and State-of Ohio, this 7th day of February, A. D. 1885.

WILLIAM M. BALDWIN, JR.

WVitnesses: I

JAS. D. MITCHELL, J. F. BANES. 

